2014 Event Fossils of a new species of giant penguin, named Palaeeudyptes klekowskii, have been found on Seymour Island in Antarctica; the penguins lived about 40 million years ago and likely weighed about 250 pounds 2014 Event A partial solar eclipse takes place, only viewable from certain regions of Australia and Antarctica; the annular eclipse was formed as the moon blocked out the center of the sun, leaving a ring of solar rays 2010 Event Australian researchers discover the first plane taken to Antarctica in 1912 1990 Event Annular eclipse visible over Antarctica and South Atlantic 1983 Event -128.6 degrees F (-89.2 degrees C) recorded, Vostok, Antarctica (world record) 1981 Event British team led by Ranulph Fiennes completes longest and fastest crossing of Antarctica, reaching Scott base after 75 days (2,500 miles) 1979 Event Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus on Antarctica kills 257 1975 Event Ice thickness measured at 4776 m, Wilkes Land, Antarctica 1962 Event AEC announces 1st atomic power plant in Antarctica in operation 1960 Event -127 degrees F (-88 degrees C), Vostok, Antarctica (world record) 1959 Event 12 nations sign treaty for scientific peaceful use of Antarctica 1957 Death Richard E Byrd, U.S., explorer (Antarctica), dies at 68 1956 Event 58 degrees F (15 degrees C), Esperanza Station, Antarctica (Antarctic record high) 1956 Event A new range of mountains discovered in Antarctica (2 over 13,000') 1939 Event Norway claims Queen Maud Land in Antarctica 1935 Event Karoline Mikkelson is 1st woman on Antarctica 1923 Event New Zealand claims Ross Dependency in Antarctica 1912 Event Robert Scott's diary and dead body found in Antarctica 1912 Death Robert F Scott, British pole explorer (Antarctica), dies 1912 Death L Oates, British explorer (Antarctica), dies 1912 Death Edgar Evans, British explorer of Antarctica, dies 1908 Event 1st ascent of Mount Erebus, Antarctica 1874 Birthday Ernest H Shackleton, Kilkee Ireland, explorer, Endurance, Antarctica 1840 Event American Charles Wilkes discovers Shackleton Ice Shelf, Antarctica 1840 Event Dumont D'Urville discovers Adelie Land, Antarctica 1840 Event Antarctica discovered, Charles Wilkes expedition (U.S. claim) 1821 Event Bellingshausen discovers Alexander Island off Antarctica 1820 Event Antarctica discovered by Nathaniel B. Palmer on the 'Hero', a 47 foot sloop 1820 Event Edward Bransfield aboard Williams discovers Antarctica (UK claim) 1778 Birthday Fabian Gottlieb von Bellinghausen, 1st to circumnavigate Antarctica 1739 Event J B C Bouvet de Lozier discovers Bouvet Island, near Antarctica
